2017 United States Grand Prix - COTA, 20-22 October

[dans79]

So based on todays forecast the weather situation looks to be as follows.

FP1 - 22°C, 95% cloud cover, 36% chance of scattered thunderstorms early in the session
FP2 - 27°C, 95% cloud cover, with a 22% chance of precipitation
FP3 - 27°C and 74% cloud cover, with a 37% chance of scattered thunderstorms early in the session

Qualifying - 30°C, 56% cloud cover with a 20% chance of precipitation

Race - 26°C, 17% cloud cover, with a 0% chance of precipitation


Practice could be a little messy, but the percentages are low so it could easily be dry the entire time. Qualifying and the race will be straightforward, dry, and cool, but track temperatures will be a little bit higher do to less cloud coverage.

[RPieter]

US tire strat:
Lewis Hamilton 1 3 9
Valtteri Bottas 2 2 9
Daniel Ricciardo 3 4 6
Max Verstappen 3 4 6
Sebastian Vettel 1 5 7
Kimi Raikkonen 2 4 7

Soft // SuperSoft // UltraSoft

Why MERC so aggresive on UltraSoft? I thought their car generally don't like them?

Anybody an idea?

[Jolle]

US tire strat:
Lewis Hamilton 1 3 9
Valtteri Bottas 2 2 9
Daniel Ricciardo 3 4 6
Max Verstappen 3 4 6
Sebastian Vettel 1 5 7
Kimi Raikkonen 2 4 7

Soft // SuperSoft // UltraSoft

Why MERC so aggresive on UltraSoft? I thought their car generally don't like them?

Anybody an idea?

Good Q speed is key, and a good wear on the US. Plus they have a set for long runs on the SS and S (they both run a set)

This way they can test everything well plus have 1 S 2 SS and 1 US all brand new for
The race, for whatever situation they can think of.

[ChrisDanger]

Someone with access to the pits posted a bunch of photos on Imgur.

https://imgur.com/a/VpVB4

[Vasconia]

So based on todays forecast the weather situation looks to be as follows.

FP1 - 22°C, 95% cloud cover, 36% chance of scattered thunderstorms early in the session
FP2 - 27°C, 95% cloud cover, with a 22% chance of precipitation
FP3 - 27°C and 74% cloud cover, with a 37% chance of scattered thunderstorms early in the session

Qualifying - 30°C, 56% cloud cover with a 20% chance of precipitation

Race - 26°C, 17% cloud cover, with a 0% chance of precipitation


Practice could be a little messy, but the percentages are low so it could easily be dry the entire time. Qualifying and the race will be straightforward, dry, and cool, but track temperatures will be a little bit higher do to less cloud coverage.

I hope it wont rain on FP because this would make team´s work more difficult. Rain would be fun on qualy, though.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

US tire strat:
Lewis Hamilton 1 3 9
Valtteri Bottas 2 2 9
Daniel Ricciardo 3 4 6
Max Verstappen 3 4 6
Sebastian Vettel 1 5 7
Kimi Raikkonen 2 4 7

Soft // SuperSoft // UltraSoft

Why MERC so aggresive on UltraSoft? I thought their car generally don't like them?

Anybody an idea?

obviously, merc would want to set up the car for ultras.Ferrari has shown good pace and Merc have to take them far more seriously. Plus, last few safety car situations have proved to be difficult on warming up soft tyres. They are focusing on things beyond just the strength of the car.

[turbof1]

Wasn't there rain predicted? In drying circumstances, the ultrasoft tyre would be an ideal choice as track temps are down.

[TAG]

Wasn't there rain predicted? In drying circumstances, the ultrasoft tyre would be an ideal choice as track temps are down.

Looks like all that's gone by the wayside. It will be a green drying track Sunday.

[godlameroso]

There will be strong crosswinds for the race.

[zac510]

Is it just me or is the screen graphic for Hartley showing the Australian flag?

[dren]

Vandoorne complaining of vibration in 6th gear.

[ChrisDanger]

[ChrisDanger]

Is it just me or is the screen graphic for Hartley showing the Australian flag?

They're quite similar. Australia on top in the below.

Interestingly...

Each nation’s flag is often mistaken for the other—earlier this month, for instance, it became apparent that the official jersey of the Wallabies, Australia’s national rugby team, had been inadvertently embroidered with New Zealand’s flag. Similar mix-ups occur regularly in international political gatherings—in November, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key spoke on radio of the indignity of being seated beneath the Australian flag at high-level meetings

[zac510]

Is it just me or is the screen graphic for Hartley showing the Australian flag?

They're quite similar. Australia on top in the below.

Actually I am from one of these countries so I know the answer to my own question perfectly well, but I just wanted to bring it up!

[ChrisDanger]

Actually I am from one of these countries so I know the answer to my own question perfectly well, but I just wanted to bring it up!

Ha, no problem. Well I learned something.

So they got it wrong then. Must be annoying for the Kiwi's.